Basket machine



March 25, 1930. c. J. DUDLEY BASKET MACHINE Filed Feb. 23, 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN V EN TOR.

M 4 41 97M A TTORNEYS.

c. J. DUDLEY BASKET MACHINE March 25, 1930.

Filed Feb. 25, 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 March'25, 1930. c. J. DUDLEY 1,751,728

BASKET MACHINE Filed Feb. 23, 1927 5 Sheets-sheaf s ATTORNEYS.

Patented Mar. 25, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE COLON J. DUDLEY, OI HAMBURG, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOB TO THE STRAIGHT-SIDE BASKET CORPORATION, 01' BENTON HARBOR, MICHIGAN, A CORPORATION OI MICHIGAN BASKET MACHINE Application lied February 23, 1927. Serial Io. 170,175.

- 5 circling said definitely-edged bottom,-as distinguished from ordinar or cup-shaped baskets, whose body-portion unites with the floor in curvilinear lines, and which have no encircling hoop at the bottom.

The machine of the present invention, like prior basket-making machines, comprises two complementary shaping-members, aligned axially on horizontal axes, with suitable operating-means, for example: a plunger or male shaper, and means for reciprocating it to telescope into and out of a hollow or female shaper; other means, operating while said shapers are telescoped, for imparting step-by-step rotar movement to the basket being formed; an still other means, operating during the pauses of said rotation, for securing hoops to the top and the middle of the successive staves of the basket-body. Preparatory to using the prior basket-makingmachines, as in preparin to use a machine of the present invention, sultable fiat strips in sufficient number are so arranged that, crossing each other at their centers, the strips radiate uniformly from their common center, where all are united as by a rivet, to constitute a flat mat; and then each mat is presented in vertical position to the action of the complementary shapers. However, in the prior machines, the rotation-imparting devices grasp the basket-form at one region or zone, and remoter portions of the basket-staves are liable, during the aforesaid rotation, to become frictionally engaged with some stationary art or parts of the female shaper, and there y become distorted out of proper position. In contrast thereto, the machine of the present invention comprises a freely-revoluble supporting-ring which encircles some remoter portion of the staves and prevents them from being distorted out of place.

One object of the present invention, then, is to provide a machine for the commercial and economic manufacture of baskets of the type indicated.

Another object of the invention is to provide a basket-makin machine which entails little or no possibillty of the basket-parts binding or becomin distorted out of place while being rotated 1n the machine.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a simple yet rugged and staunch machine of the character indicated, which will operate with a minimum of attention, and will produce in a relatively short time a relatively large number of perfect baskets of the type indicated.

Other objects of the invention will in part be obvious and will in part appear hereinafter.

The invention accordingly comprises the features of construction, the combinations of elements, and the arrangements of parts, exemplified in the structure hereinafter set forth, and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the claims. For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the invention, reference should be had to the following detailed description of a preferred structure, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which latter:

Figure 1 is a side elevation, which discloses diagrammatically one form of machine embodying the improved construction of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged horizontal sectional view of the two coacting basket-shaping members of this machine, the plunger-member being shown as somewhat withdrawn from its extreme position within the hollow shaping-member Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2, but taken at an angle to the horizontal, and showing in elevation certain of the parts illustrated in the preceding views;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary view of one of the antifrictionalmembers of the aforesaid freely-revoluble support for the body-portion of the shaped basket;

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 2, showing a form of construction slightly difierent from that shown in the preceding views, and illustrating the relative positions of the sha ed basket and the two shaping-members w en the plunger-member has completed its in.- ward movement; and

Fig. 6 is a. fragmentary end-view of a. portion of a detail forming part of thestructure shown by Fig. 5.

Referring primarily to Fig. 1 From a base 5 rises a head 6, upon which are supported three stapling-devices or staplers 7, below the first and second of which is located the usual female or hollow shaping-member. This member is stationary and tapers more or less, being largest at the front, and preferably consists of two axially-aligned sections 8 and 9, which are shown as supported on a standard 10, and secured against relative movement as by strips 11. Facing the rear of the rear section 9 1s a vertical end-disk 12 which may carry, in an annular recess, a spring-pressed ring 13 that faces the rear of said section 9. The disk 12 is carried by a revoluble horizontal shaft 14, which may be tubular to provide for carrying a springpressed plunger that extends into the space defined by said rear section 9. Any rotary movement of shaft 14 produces, of course, like rotary movement of disk 12 and plunger 15, which rotary movement. imparts (as will appear) similar rotary movement to the shaped basket. Step-by-step rotary movement is imparted to shaft 14 by the usual or any desired mechanism, as is well understood, and therefore needs no further description. Opposite the first two staplers (the two righthand staplers 7 in Fig. 1), the female shaping-member is provided with the "usual openings for the insertion of the usual two flat 7 strips which are to become the upper and middle hoops respectively, and for the operation of these two staplers in securing said hoops to the underlying staves. Between the vertical face of said disk 12 and the rear end of said section 9, is left a clearance for applying the third or bottom hoop, and for the op. eration thereon of the third stapler (the lefthand stapler 7, in Fig. 1). The usual or any suitable mechanism causes the three staplers to operate during the pauses of the aforesaid ,step-by-step rotation of saidshaft 14.

Supported above said base 5 is another head 16, upon which is mounted the reciprocating male sha ing-member, comprising a plunger-shaft 1? upon which are freely mounted a revoluble front disk 18 and at least two other revoluble disks 18' and 18" whose diameters are graduated and whose edges are bevelled to correspond to the flare of the female shaping-member. The exposed or front face of the front disk 18 may be somewhat dished, to coact with the aforesaid disk 12 and plunger 15 for imparting a bulge to the floor of the basket.. The usual or any desired mechanism forces this male plunger or male shaper with its revoluble disks into-and out of the stationary female shaper. The operation of this mechanism for projecting the plunger and its disks, and for retracting them, is controlled by a pedal 20. .The operation of the aforesaid mechanism for imparting step-by-step rotary movement to said shaft 14 and for actuatin said staplers 7 during th another pe al 21. These controls also are well known in the art, and therefore require no further description.

The operation of the machine thus far described will be readily understood. First, the three strips (which are to constitute hoops are installed at their respective locations indicated above, and a basket-blank or mat is placed on edge upon a mat-rest at 22. If desired an already-shaped hoop is fitted around the rearmost disk 18 to become an inner tophoop. Thereupon, the pedal 21 is actuated, which causes projection of the plunger-member with its disks, thereby forcing the mat into the hollow shaping-member. The circular central portion of the mat is carried straight forward by the front disk 18, to constitute the floor of the finished basket; while the tapering bore of the hollow shapingmember forces the annular exterior portion of the mat into angular relation to said central ortion (or floor) to constitute the flaring ody-portion of the basket. It is noteworthy that, owing to the abrupt angle at the front edge of said front disk 18, those staveportions which constitute the body-portion 23 lie at an abrupt angle to the floor 24, as indicated in Fig. 2. Moreover, when the other plunger 15 (of shaft 14) is used, it imparts to the floor 24 a bulge into the interior of the basket. When the plunger 17 with its plurality of disks has completed its travel into the hollow shaping-member, the front face of said revoluble front disk 18 and the opposing face of said revoluble end-disk 12 (and/or said spring-pressed ring 13, when present) are clamping between them an annular portion of said floor 24; and, at the same stage,

e auses, is starte and stopped by each of the three disks (18, 18', 18"), lies in the plane of a corresponding hoop 25, and the edges of the disks are affording anvils for clinching the staples when applied. After the basket has been shaped, as Just set forth, the other pedal 21 is actuated, and thereby step-by-step rotary movement is imparted to said shaft 14 and its end-disk 12, which latter carries with it the basket-floor which is clamped against it by said revoluble disk 18,

and said disk 18 also; and, during the pauses in this rotary movement, the stapling-devices 7 operate to secure the hoops to the underlying staves.

The aforesaid rotary movements imparted to the shaped backet, are received positively and directly at only the aforesaid annular portion of its floor, consequently remoter parts of the body-portion, particularly the end-parts of the staves constituting the bodyportion, are liable to frictional engagement with the stationary female shaping-member. Such frictional engagement may cause binding, thereby either interfering with the rotation or possibly distorting one or more staves out of position or dolng some other damage which will result in an imperfect basket. Such mishaps are avoided by providing a revoluble antifrictional support for the body-portion of the basket, preferably one which directly receives positive rotary movements in synchronism with the rotary movements of shaft 14 and disk 12. This'is accomplished by forming the female shaping-member of two separatedsections 8 and 9, as above, and interposing a revoluble ring 26, whose inner face 27 is co-axial with t sections. Said inner face 27 projects slightly into the flaring space defined by saidsections, and is bevelled to correspond to that flare, so as to engage the body-portion 23 of the basket somewhere remote from where the floor-portion 24 is gripped between said disks 12 and 18. One of the sections, as section 9, supports a plurality of brackets 28 (see Figs. 2 and 5, also Fig. 4); and each of these brackets supports a stub-shaft 29 which has an annular groove to receive the balls of a ball-race 30, upon which journals a roller 31. These rollers support said ring 26, engaging an annular groove formed in the outer face of said ring. When the plunger-member has forced the basket-mat home within the hollow sections 89, this revoluble ring 26 is encircling the staves which constitute the body-portion 23 of the basket; and, during the subsequent rotary movement of the basket, this revoluble ring holds the staves free from frictional engagement with any stationary surface.

This antifrictional support or ring 26 may be one that will rotate freely upon becoming frictionally engaged with the body-portion of the shaped basket. But it is preferable to provide positive means for directly imparting to ring 26 positive rotary movements synchronous with those imparted to said end-disk. Referring to Fig. 5, said ring 26 is provided with a lateral extension 32 carrying external gear-teeth 33, and the sections 8 and 9 are accordingly spaced further apart than as indicated by Figs. 2 and 3, so as to accommodate this ring with its lateral extension 32-33; a second gear 34, having the same diameter and the same number of teeth as said gear 33, is carried by the shaft 14, as upon said end-disk 12; and a counter-shaft 35 parallel with said shaft 14, is mounted in housing 36 and carries at one end a spurgear 37 in mesh with said gear 33, and at its other end and in mesh with said gear 34 an identical spur-gear 37, having the same diameter and number of teeth as said spur-gear means of this structure, disclosed by Fig. 5, actuation of pedal 21 results in simultaneous rotary movements, alternating with simultaneous pauses, of end-disk 12 and of ring 26, thereby positively imparting rotary movement and pauses at two separated regions of the shaped basket, without danger of any of the parts of the shaped basket becoming frictionally engaged,during rotary movement, with any statlonary surface.

Inasmuch as changes may be made in the constructions above set forth, and different embodiments of the invention could be made, without departing from the scope of the invention, itis intended that all matter contained in the foregoing description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative only and not in a limiting sense.

It is also to be understood that the following claims are intended to'cover all of the generic and s ecific features of the invention herein described, and all statements of the scope of the invention which as a matter of language might be considered to fall therebetween.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a. machine for making a basket or similar receptacle, the combination of a reciprocating and rotary basket form for engaging the inside of the receptacle, a stationary mold into which the form is movable, the form having a gradual straight ta er from its top to its bottom, whereby the asket is tapered accordingly, rotary means for pressing the bottom of the basket against the end of the form, a ring gear rotatably mounted in the mold, having its inner periphery adapted to grip the outer surface of the basket, means whereby said ring gear is rotated by the operation of said rotary means, means for feeding outside top and bottom hoops to the basket. and stapling mechanism for driving staples through the hoops and the side walls of the basket.

2. A structure as specified in claim 1, having means for providing the basket with an intermediate hoop between the top and bottom hoops, said ring gear being disposed between said intermediate hoop and the top hoop of the basket.

3. A machine for making baskets or receptacles, comprising means for forming the basket or receptacle, a ring gear for en aging the outer sides of the basket, means or engaging and rotating said ring gear, whereby to rot-ate the receptacle, and means for performing fastening operations on the receptacle to fasten the materials thereof together while held in shape by said ring gear.

4. A structure as specified in claim 3, said means for forming the basket comprising a rotary form movable axially into andout of said ring, and rotatable therewith.

5. A structure as specified in claim 3, said basket forming means comprising a mold having its mouthdisposed a distance from said ring gear, and the ring gear being thus in position to engage the receptacle adistance from the top or rim thereof.

6. A basket-making machine comprising both fixed and movable co-operating elements for bending staves in a manner to provide the basket with downwardly tapered side walls and a bottom lying within the length of the basket side walls, with a circular bottom corner ed e where the sides 'oin the bottom, means forholding the fixed ending elements in stationary posltion, means for causing operation of the movable bending elements, means for engaging the basket bottom to rotate the same, devices for positioning and stapling an outside hoop on the basket about said circular bottom edge, so that said hoop will form the bottom rim of the basket, and

devices for stapling inner and outer hoops on the basket flush with the upper edge thereof.

7. A structure as specified in claim 6, said co-operating elements comprisinga rotary and reciprocating basket form for engaging the inside of'the basket, and comprising a nonrotatable stationary mold disposed in fixed position to receive the said basket form and shape the basket thereon.

8. A structure as specified in claim 6, said co-operating elements comprising a non-ro tatable stationary mold disposed in fixed position to receive the basket materials, a form for engaging the inside of the basket, co-oper' ating with said mold to shape the basket.

9. A structure as specified in claim 6, said cooperating elements comprising a rotary basket form, a non-rotatable mold for receiving the basket form with the basket materials thereon, for shaping the basket, said mold having a rotary ring therein for gripping the sides of the basket, together with means for rotating said ring to cause rotation ofthe basket form with the basket thereon during the stapling of said hoops in place.

10. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination of a frusto-conical rotary form havin an annular edge at the smaller end thereo means for reciprocating said form, a ram relatively movable to and from the end of the form for bending the basket materials abruptly over said edge and pressing the center portion of the bottom of the basket against the bottom of the form, rotatable means movable with said ram to engage and rotate said basket, and mechanism cooperating with the said edge for securing a confining band around the basket at the end of the form, so that said band extends across the marginal edge of the basket bottom.

11. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination of a tapered rotary form having an annular edge around its smaller end, means for reciprocating the form, a

folder adapted to embrace the form for pressing a mat of staves against said edge of the form and folding outer portions of the mat against the tapered sides of the. form, means for holding the folder fixed in statlonary position, means for pushing the center portion of themat against the end of the form, means movable with said last named means for engaging and rotating the basket, co-operating with said form and holder to produce an abrupt bend in the staves around the outer edge of the basket bottom, and mechanism in fixed operative relatlonto said folder and operative for applying a confining band around the folded mat on' the form to embrace the aforesaid abrupt bend and retain the desired form of the portion of the mat forming said bottom.

12. A structure as specified in claim 11, sa1d folder forming a rotary ring therein for pressing the staves tightly against the form. A structure as specified in claim 11, sa1d folder forming a rotary ring therein for pressing the staves tightly against the form, and means to positively rotate said ring and thereby rotate said basket and thereby rotate said form.

14. structure as specified in claim 11, comprlsing a rotary clamp for clamping the basket bottom against the form, and means to rotate said clamp and thereby rotate said basket and thereby rotate said form.

15. structure as specified in claim 11, comprising a rotary clamp for clamping the basket bottom against the form, and means to rotate said clamp and thereby rotate said basket and thereby rotate said form, said clamp having a spring pressed ring to engage the basket bottom adjacent the outer edge thereof.

16. A structure as specified in claim 11, said form having a recessed bottom end, whereby the basket bottom is arched on its top side, and pressure means for engaging the basket bottom adjacent said abrupt bend.

17. A structure as specified in claim 11, said folder having a rotary ring therein for engaging the side wallsof the basket, disposed in an annular space in said folder, and

external rollers on said folder indposition to engage and support said ring.

18. A basket machine comprising co-opcrating forming elements for bending the basket materials into basket form, including a rotary basket form, a rotary clamp for pressing the bottom of the basket against the end of the basket form, and means for rotating said clamp and thereby rotating said basket and said form. a

19. A structure asspecified in claim 18, said elements also including a rotary ring for engaging the outer sides of the basket, and means whereby said ring and said clamp are geared together to rotate in unison.

20. In a machine for making frusto-conical baskets with an arched bottom, the combination of a basket support, means for reciprocating said support, means cooperating there I with to arch the entire bottom of the basket and form an acute angled juncture of the side walls and bottom of the basket, means movable with said lastnamed means for engaging and rotating the basket, and a hoop 

